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July 2: INF Isiah Kiner-Falefa (left knee sprain) placed on 10-day IL; INF Leo Jimenez recalled from Triple-A Buffalo
Kiner-Falefa felt something in his knee while stretching just minutes before Monday's game against the Astros and was a late scratch. Tests revealed a left knee sprain and the Blue Jays expect that he'll need more than the minimum 10 days, calling it "week to week" for now. This is another very difficult loss for the Blue Jays as Kiner-Falefa has emerged as one of the most important position players on this roster.

Jimenez, who's ranked as the Blue Jays' No. 5 prospect by MLB Pipeline, received his first big league callup after batting .271/.416/.431 with seven homers and 23 RBIs at Buffalo. He's expected to play second base and shortstop, and given Kiner-Falefa's timeline, he could get some action in the coming weeks.

July 1: RHP Yimi García (right ulnar nerve neuritis) throwing bullpens
García threw a bullpen session on Sunday in Toronto, which went well, and he's scheduled to throw another on Wednesday. This is great news for the Blue Jays, particularly with Jordan Romano's absence stretching on.

García will still need to make some rehab appearances, but these bullpen sessions put him on track for that to happen soon. The Blue Jays' bullpen desperately needs some help on the back end right now, and unless this club makes a run over the next couple of weeks, García could also be one of the most attractive relief arms on the trade market. He is in the final year of his contract.

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10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST

UTIL Isiah Kiner-Falefa (left knee sprain)
Expected return: Potentially late July to early August
Kiner-Falefa felt something in his knee while stretching on July 1 and was a surprise, last-minute scratch from that day's lineup. Tests revealed a sprain and the Blue Jays are considering this a "week to week" issue, so while it's difficult to nail down a timeline right now, he'll need more than the minimum 10 days.

The urgency of Kiner-Falefa's rehab and return in the later stages of that process could also depend on where the Blue Jays are in late July and through the July 30 Trade Deadline, if this stretches on that long. We can expect to have a clearer picture of that by mid-July. (Last updated: July 2)

RHP Yimi García (right ulnar nerve neuritis)
Expected return: Mid-July
An MRI exam showed no structural damage to García's right elbow, which is encouraging, so García has slowly built back up and threw a bullpen session on June 30. He's scheduled to throw another on July 3, which could be followed by a rehab assignment if all goes well.

It's still possible García returns by the All-Star break at this point, which begins July 15 after the Blue Jays' long road trip on the West Coast. (Last updated: July 1)

LHP Ricky Tiedemann (left ulnar nerve inflammation; No. 1 on Blue Jays' Top 30 Prospects list)
Expected return: Early July
The Blue Jays' No. 1 prospect has been dominant across two Single-A rehab appearances with the Dunedin Blue Jays. In his most recent outing on June 26, Tiedemann struck out five batters over 2 1/3 innings of scoreless ball on 44 pitches.

Tiedemann is scheduled to pitch with Dunedin again on July 3, and if all goes well, he should be built up enough to return to the Triple-A Buffalo rotation. From there, he could be an option for the big league club at any point. (Last updated: July 1)

RHP Jordan Romano (right elbow inflammation)
Expected return: TBD
Romano's elbow wasn't "bouncing back" as well as he'd hoped, and tests revealed inflammation. The right-hander was throwing at 120 feet from flat ground, but he was shut down after experiencing discomfort during the Blue Jays' series against the Yankees at Rogers Centre. Romano was scheduled to consult with Dr. Keith Meister on July 2.

This is the second time Romano -- who has been sidelined since May 30 -- had to be backed off from his throwing progression, as he also experienced discomfort during Toronto's series against the Guardians in Cleveland. The Blue Jays will have a better sense of Romano's condition -- and whether an elbow procedure is necessary -- after the meeting with Meister. (Last updated: June 29)

RHP Alek Manoah (right UCL surgery)
Expected return: 2025
Manoah underwent successful right UCL reconstructive surgery with an internal brace on June 17 and is expected to rejoin the Blue Jays in Toronto soon. Manoah left his start on May 29 after feeling a "pinchy" sensation in his right elbow. He was "guarding" his elbow earlier in that start, but the discomfort arose when he began to fully extend his elbow through pitches. (Last updated: June 18)

60-DAY INJURED LIST

LHP Brandon Barriera (Tommy John surgery, No. 4 on Blue Jays' Top 30 prospects list)
Expected return: 2025
Barriera's agent announced in late April that the 20-year-old lefty had undergone Tommy John surgery with an internal brace to repair a Grade 2 UCL tear and was placed on the Minor League season-ending injured list. The Blue Jays' No. 4 prospect will miss the rest of the 2024 season and likely part of the 2025 season, though that timeline should be clearer early next year.

This is another difficult setback for the Blue Jays' first-round pick from 2022. Barriera was shut down after the Draft that year, dealt with injuries in 2023 and is now done for '24, leaving him with just 21 2/3 pro innings under his belt. Barriera had impressed in camp and was touching 97 mph regularly, but for now, he'll focus on the rehab process and attempt to come back strong in his age-21 season. (Last updated: May 17)

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